Recent Interpersonal Exchanges
I have either A) an exceedingly abrasive, uncouth, and generally terrible personality, or B) interpersonal relationships with other local people who are really too sensitive for their own good and think that anything that doesn't speak to their abilities in a positive way 110% is an insult.
Item 1. So, on Friday, one of my coworkers comes back from the hardware store and tells me that one of the people (who will remain nameless) who owns a business (also to remain nameless) which we call on from time to time to support our business, no longer wants to service us. Apparently, this person wouldn't let me coworker get a word in edgewise and was ranting very heatedly. Why does this person no longer want to work with us after about 29 years? Me. That's right, and no explanation was given as to anything I had done or said to this person.
I have not spoken to this person once this year, I have only had dealings with one of his employees, and they all, in my opinion were amicable encounters. I have never spoken in a less than gracious way to this person, and the same can be said for the reverse, at least, in my estimation and perception. We cool, or so I thought.
Now, I've been told on occasion that my tone in particular makes me sound like, and I quote, "a jackass," but anyone who knows me, knows that about me. Again, not having had any direct verbal communication, I can't figure out what's going on. So, a big WTF there.
Item 2. A young lady who works at a shop adjacent to ours, who is more than a little attractive is a frequent customer. I said to my coworker who regularly serves her, in jest, mind you, that if the young lady ever stopped smoking to let me know. Hint hint, nudge nudge. My coworker responded to this with, "She thinks you're a jackass, you were rude to her." W...T...F... Once again, I'm scratching my brain to try to figure out what in the blue blazes I said or did to offend this person. I can't think of anything really. I suppose maybe she expects preferential treatment because she's such a frequent customer from a business which directly neighbors ours. If that's the case, then I'm sorry - you're a customer like the rest, despite your 25% discount.
I went out of my way to be nice to this person the next time around, just for good measure. Not that I have any aspirations of being with her, but I'd rather everyone be on the most amicable terms possible.
Item 3. Not directly tied to me, I hope, but how and ever... One of my employees quit today, citing frustration with customers, and particularly, perceived animosity from the management. Huh? This employee is relatively elderly and, while not quite as fast as the others, he does well for his age. Supposedly, one of the "upper-level" made a rude comment about him in his presence. He didn't say who it was (yet, though I intend to find out) and he left work minutes after, emotionally distraught. He implied that it was not me, but it does not make my position any easier.
This perhaps disturbs me more than the previous two items, mostly because, I think, of his emotional state when we parted. In the case of a man of his age, with the amount of experience he has in various situations, I find it to be revolting when someone disrespects them in such a way. It is a difficult enough feat for someone at that point in life to get up in the mornings, do your best to make yourself presentable, go to work for people a third your age, earning relatively meager wages.
This man managed and tended a bar. He was a customer service specialist for a NYC outfit. He was a public relations officer for the Naval academy in Maryland and guided tours for foreign dignitaries.
And now, reduced to scooping ice cream and serving candy, he's (allegedly) being called a "dumb son of a bitch" by a twenty-something who thinks they're so much better. For the record, I can't imagine that any of the management at work would say anything of the sort to or about him, hence the "allegedly," but it is little comfort still.
I almost cried myself when reading over his resume again this evening.
Item 1. So, on Friday, one of my coworkers comes back from the hardware store and tells me that one of the people (who will remain nameless) who owns a business (also to remain nameless) which we call on from time to time to support our business, no longer wants to service us. Apparently, this person wouldn't let me coworker get a word in edgewise and was ranting very heatedly. Why does this person no longer want to work with us after about 29 years? Me. That's right, and no explanation was given as to anything I had done or said to this person.
I have not spoken to this person once this year, I have only had dealings with one of his employees, and they all, in my opinion were amicable encounters. I have never spoken in a less than gracious way to this person, and the same can be said for the reverse, at least, in my estimation and perception. We cool, or so I thought.
Now, I've been told on occasion that my tone in particular makes me sound like, and I quote, "a jackass," but anyone who knows me, knows that about me. Again, not having had any direct verbal communication, I can't figure out what's going on. So, a big WTF there.
Item 2. A young lady who works at a shop adjacent to ours, who is more than a little attractive is a frequent customer. I said to my coworker who regularly serves her, in jest, mind you, that if the young lady ever stopped smoking to let me know. Hint hint, nudge nudge. My coworker responded to this with, "She thinks you're a jackass, you were rude to her." W...T...F... Once again, I'm scratching my brain to try to figure out what in the blue blazes I said or did to offend this person. I can't think of anything really. I suppose maybe she expects preferential treatment because she's such a frequent customer from a business which directly neighbors ours. If that's the case, then I'm sorry - you're a customer like the rest, despite your 25% discount.
I went out of my way to be nice to this person the next time around, just for good measure. Not that I have any aspirations of being with her, but I'd rather everyone be on the most amicable terms possible.
Item 3. Not directly tied to me, I hope, but how and ever... One of my employees quit today, citing frustration with customers, and particularly, perceived animosity from the management. Huh? This employee is relatively elderly and, while not quite as fast as the others, he does well for his age. Supposedly, one of the "upper-level" made a rude comment about him in his presence. He didn't say who it was (yet, though I intend to find out) and he left work minutes after, emotionally distraught. He implied that it was not me, but it does not make my position any easier.
This perhaps disturbs me more than the previous two items, mostly because, I think, of his emotional state when we parted. In the case of a man of his age, with the amount of experience he has in various situations, I find it to be revolting when someone disrespects them in such a way. It is a difficult enough feat for someone at that point in life to get up in the mornings, do your best to make yourself presentable, go to work for people a third your age, earning relatively meager wages.
This man managed and tended a bar. He was a customer service specialist for a NYC outfit. He was a public relations officer for the Naval academy in Maryland and guided tours for foreign dignitaries.
And now, reduced to scooping ice cream and serving candy, he's (allegedly) being called a "dumb son of a bitch" by a twenty-something who thinks they're so much better. For the record, I can't imagine that any of the management at work would say anything of the sort to or about him, hence the "allegedly," but it is little comfort still.
I almost cried myself when reading over his resume again this evening.